Method and device for collagen growth stimulation
The invention provides an applicator for skin treatment having one or more RF electrodes. An article is located between the electrodes, such as a roller or flexible belt containing one or more protruding pins electrically isolated from the RF electrodes. The invention also provides a system for skin treatment comprising the applicator of the invention and a control unit. The invention further provides a method of treating skin disorders in which a section of the skin is heated while, essentially simultaneously, piercing one or more holes in the heated section of the skin. The method of the invention may be used, for example, in collagen remodeling.
This invention relates to electromagnetic energy skin treatment and, in particular, skin treatment for dermatological and cosmetic purposes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is known that skin damage can stimulate the growth of new collagen. Uncontrolled skin damage may cause scarring, which is excessive collagen growth. However, controlled damage of the skin which is intentionally introduced can stimulate controlled re-growth of collagen in such a way as to improve the appearance of the skin. A well known method of controlled skin damage is ablating the epidermis using laser radiation with wavelengths having strong water absorption. Typical lasers used for epidermal ablation are CO2 and Er:YAG lasers. U.S. Pat. No. 6,309,387 to Eggers et al. discloses ablation of the epidermis using RF current. This treatment significantly reduces wrinkles and improves skin appearance. The main disadvantages of skin resurfacing are the long healing period that can last for more than a month, and a high risk of dischromia. These disadvantages have reduced the popularity of ablative skin re-surfacing.
Non-ablative skin resurfacing is based on heating the dermis up to a sub-necrotic temperature with simultaneous cooling of the skin surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,801 to Anderson et al. describes the use of infrared laser radiation penetrating into the skin dermis with dynamic cooling of the skin surface using a cryogen spray. U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,753 to Knowlton describes a method of skin tightening using uni-polar or bi-polar RF electrodes to create skin heating in combination with cooling to generate a negative skin temperature gradient in which the dermis is hotter than the epidermis. The main barrier for introducing RF current is the stratum cornea, which should be hydrated by an electrolytic type of liquid prior the treatment. Non-ablative treatment is much safer and has no down time but the results of the treatment are less satisfactory.
A method described in US patent publication 20030216719 tries to retain the efficiency of ablative treatment coupled with a shorter healing time and with a lower risk of adverse effects. The device described in this patent publication coagulates fragments of the skin having a size in the range of tens of microns while keeping the distance between the fragments larger than the damaged zone. This treatment provides skin healing within a few days, but the results are very superficial and less satisfactory than with a CO2 laser, even after multiple sessions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONDisclosed is a system and method for collagen growth stimulation. The method and the system use a combination of two different methods of stimulating collagen growth to provide a collagen remodeling process that is controlled and effective.
This method can be applied to a plurality of clinical treatments including different skin disorders, such as wrinkle treatment, skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, skin dischromia treatment, and others.
The system comprises a mechanical part creating spaced apart blind micro-holes in the skin with controlled size and surface density and one or more sources of energy providing skin heating.
Thus, in one of its aspects, the invention provides an applicator for skin treatment, said applicator comprising:
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- (a) one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin surface; and
- (b) an article located between the electrodes, said article containing one or more protruding pins electrically isolated from the RF electrodes.
In another of its aspects, the invention provides a system for skin treatment, said system comprising:
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- (a) an applicator for skin treatment, said applicator including:
- i) one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin surface; and
- ii) an article located between the electrodes said article containing one or more protruding pins electrically isolated from the RF electrodes; and
- (b) a control unit.
- (a) an applicator for skin treatment, said applicator including:
The invention also provides a method of treating skin disorders, said method comprising heating a section of the skin while, essentially simultaneously, piercing one or more holes in the heated section of the skin.
The invention still further provides a method of collagen remodeling, said method comprising:
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- (a) puncturing a section of skin by one or more invasive pins, and introducing fragmental holes into the skin; and
- (b) stimulating collagen growth in the skin using an RF electrode and heating the skin.
In order to understand the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Reference is made to
Control unit 108 includes an RF energy generator 124 that is connected to RF electrodes 204 (
Control unit 108 may include a source of power supply 136 that provides power to an optional light source located in applicator 104. In the course of operation, when RF is supplied to electrodes 204, the temperature of the electrodes may increase. Electrodes 204 can be cooled using thermoelectric coolers (not shown) or a cold fluid that has a temperature less than that of the skin surface. Control unit 108 may include a source 140 of such a fluid, and pump the fluid to the electrodes when needed.
In an alternative embodiment shown in
In use, applicator 104 or 404 is applied to skin such that RF electrodes 204 contact the skin 116 surface 120. Following this, applicator 104 is moved over skin 116, maintaining contact with skin surface 120. As applicator 104 is moved over the skin surface 120, article 208 (roller 208) or belt 406 rolls over the skin surface 120. Pins 212 or 410 puncture the skin and create blind holes in it, penetrating into the skin to reach a collagen layer 228 located at a depth of over 70 microns below the skin surface. Simultaneously RF energy is supplied to electrodes 204 and an RF current is made to flow between the electrodes 204 through collagen layer 228 of the skin. RF electrodes 204 deliver an RF current to the skin section with holes created in it by pins 212 or 410 and provide heating of the collagen structure 228. The RF power applied should be sufficient to heat a treated skin section by at least 5 (five) degrees C. The optimal skin heating is 10-20 degrees C. over the normal skin temperature. The RF power is preferably in the range of 10-500 W, more preferably 20-100 W. The RF current frequency is in the range of 0.2-100 MHZ, with a typical operating range of 1-10 MHz. Control unit 108 regulates and switches ON or OFF supply of RF power to electrodes 204 by monitoring the impedance between electrodes 204.
Pins 212 or 410 made of an isolating or dielectric material have a resistance higher than that of the skin and the damaged section of the skin around the pin/s. The lower conductivity of the plastic or dielectric in the interior of blind holes causes the current density to be maximal around the circumference of the holes. Holes produced by pins 212 or 410 are spaced apart from each other and there is no contact between them. The holes damage a small fragment of the skin 116. The high density of RF current around the punctured holes heats the fraction of the skin around each hole more strongly and further stimulates collagen growth.
As noted above, electrodes 204 may be shorter or longer than the punctured skin section.
The treated skin surface 120 is affected by rolling the article over the skin. Pins of the article penetrate skin 116 and should be sterilized before each treatment. In order to avoid this and simplify the treatment process, both roller 208 and belt 406 could be made as disposable items.
In another embodiment, instead of an RF current, the skin can be heated using optical energy. The optical energy can be produced by a laser, an incandescent lamp, a flash lamp, or a LED. The belt or roller may be made of transparent material, for example, glass, Polycarbonate, or Perspex™ enabling heating with light energy simultaneous with puncturing. Alternatively, light sources may be mounted to illuminate/irradiate from both sides of roller 208.
The present apparatus and method enable collagen remodeling due to fragmental stimulation of collagen growth in the skin using an electrical electrode and invasive pins.
While the method and apparatus have been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the method and apparatus may be made.
Claims
1. An applicator for skin treatment, said applicator comprising:
- (a) one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin surface; and
- (b) an article located between the electrodes, said article containing one or more protruding pins electrically isolated from the RF electrodes.
2. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the article is made of electrically isolating material.
3. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the protruding pins are made from at least one of a group of metal, plastic, or composite material.
4. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the length of the pins is in a range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm.
5. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the pins is less than 0.5 mm.
6. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the pins are designed to penetrate the skin.
7. The applicator according to claim 1 further comprising a light source.
8. The applicator according to claim 7 wherein the light source is at least one of a group of an incandescent lamp, a flash lamp, a LED, or a laser.
9. The applicator according to claim 7, wherein the light source is arranged to illuminate the skin between the electrodes.
10. The applicator according to claim 1 wherein the RF electrodes communicate with a source of cooling fluid.
11. A system for skin treatment, said system comprising:
- (a) an applicator for skin treatment, said applicator including: i) one or more RF electrodes adapted to be applied to skin surface; and ii) an article located between the electrodes said article containing one or more protruding pins electrically isolated from the RF electrodes; and
- (b) a control unit.
12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the protruding pins are made from at least one of a group of metal, plastic, or composite material.
13. The system according to claim 11 wherein the length of the pins is in a range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm and the diameter of the pins is less than 0.5 mm.
14. The system a according to claim 11 wherein the pins are designed to penetrate the skin.
15. The system for skin treatment according to claim 11 wherein the control unit further comprises:
- (a) a source of RF energy;
- (b) a light emitting unit power supply; and
- (c) a source of cooling fluid.
16. The system according to claim 11 wherein the RF electrodes communicate with the source of RF and the source of cooling fluid.
17. The system according to any one of claim 11 wherein the light source communicates with the light emitting unit power supply.
18. A method of treating skin disorders, said method comprising heating a section of the skin while, essentially simultaneously, piercing one or more holes in the heated section of the skin.
19. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 18 wherein the skin is heated by a source of RF.
20. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 18 wherein the skin is heated by a source of light.
21. The method of treating skin disorders according to claim 18 wherein the skin is cooled by a source of cooling fluid.
22. A method of collagen remodeling, said method comprising:
- (a) puncturing a section of skin by one or more invasive pins, and introducing fragmental holes into the skin; and
- (b) stimulating collagen growth in the skin using an RF electrode and heating the skin.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 31, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 12, 2009
Patent Grant number: 8135475
Inventors: Michael Kreindel (Yokneam Illit), Lion Flyash (Nazareth-illit)
Application Number: 12/222,063
International Classification: A61N 1/30 (20060101); A61B 18/18 (20060101);